Chapter 34: The Tables Have Turned
It was different from a "Superman Kick."
A pro-wrestler's flying kick involves flipping the entire body in mid-air, emphasizing rotational inertia, concentrating all the body's weight and power into the instep.
Using the instep as the striking point, it hits the opponent with a whiplash effect!
[Zangief • Spinning Cyclone Kick]!
BANG!
Shiraki Kei's instep slammed into the side of Rodem's head.
On the other end of the feed, Q-Taro heard a sharp crackle-pop from the speaker. The image on the screen cracked, then dissolved into a blast of static.
Shiraki Kei's kick had also destroyed the camera mounted by Rodem's ear.
And in the final, frozen frame, Q-Taro clearly saw that man, Akagi Shigeru, [The Man of the Divine Realm], raise his pistol at Rodem and pull the trigger.
"Farewell, Rodem."
BANG!
The gun fired. The screen went black.
Q-Taro couldn't see Rodem anymore.
He would never know what "Rodem" saw in his final moments. Not that Q-Taro cared.
After all, Rodem was just a useful "tool."
...
...
Rodem's eyes, corroded by the acid, were a blurry, bloody mess.
As the pistol fired, the brief muzzle flash flooded his vision with light.
His beast-like instincts sensed the mortal crisis. His brain was forced to work, and his life flashed before his eyes.
In that instant, Rodem's eyes were no longer those of a killing demon. They became incredibly clear.
It seemed... he had changed back into the dull-eyed "Maruko."
He remembered—
When he was a child, he was starving, just skin and bones, sitting alone in the ruins. All around him were the corpses of the villagers, slaughtered by mercenaries.
Just then, a mercenary had walked up to him, held out a hand, and led him away from his home.
After that, the mercenary injected him with drugs and made him kill.
But... killing is wrong, isn't it?
—Maruko had thought.
And so, under Q-Taro's extreme pressure, Maruko's brain had activated a self-preservation mechanism, giving birth to a second personality, one made specifically for killing: "Rodem."
But Maruko didn't understand any of this.
Catalyzed by the drugs and the human experiments, the "Maruko" of today had already lost the ability to retrieve his memories.
His blank, uncomprehending eyes just stared at his life flashing by. That was all.
Such a life... was just too tragic.
All Maruko could do was ask, over and over in his mind—
Who am I?
Maruko? Rodem? Who... am I?
...
...
Fifth floor, in the office.
Q-Taro stared at the blank monitor, listening to the dead silence from the speaker. He said nothing.
He only cared about one thing—
Rodem was killed?!
"..."
After a long silence, Q-Taro suddenly spoke, asking Yako, "Yako-san... have I... lost?"
But Yako shook his head. "The condition for victory is 'one of the [Usogui] or [Man of the Divine Realm] parties successfully escapes the building,' or 'Master Kokonoe stops both teams from escaping.'"
"I believe there is still hope."
Here, Yako's tone shifted, a playful smile on his face. "Of course, if Master Kokonoe gives up now, the winner will be decided between the other two parties."
SWISH!
The words had barely left his mouth when Q-Taro drew his sword-cane, aiming it at Yako's throat.
"Give up? What a joke! You're right, I do still have hope!"
Q-Taro's face was a savage mask, his voice a rasp. "This gamble has no rules. Which means... the referee of this gamble... Yako-san..."
"If you just... disappear... then no one will know the outcome!"
"My fortune, my Kakerou membership... I'll get to keep it all! That's right, isn't it?!"
A gambler who has lost everything will often just flip the table. That was Q-Taro right now.
Hearing this, the old gentleman in the suit, his hair and mustache impeccably groomed, slowly opened his eyes.
"That may be so... but I would advise against it—"
SWISH!
Before Yako could finish, Q-Taro gripped the hilt and swung down.
But when the blade was less than two centimeters from Yako's brow, Yako's right hand shot out. He caught the blade... with just three fingers.
No matter how hard Q-Taro pushed, the blade wouldn't budge.
Yako's expression was calm, his movements as elegant as a gentleman's, a perfect, art-like display.
"A 'referee' is responsible for mediation. We also accept commissions from our members, handling all sorts of affairs."
"Our members include high-level bureaucrats, warlords, mercenaries, mafia, yakuza... people from every walk of life."
"We are... carefully selected."
Yako shifted his body slightly, releasing the blade at the same time.
SWISH!
Q-Taro's blade swung down on empty air. Yako was already to the side.
"How could a 'referee' be defeated by some irrational, savage beast?"
"If one cannot overcome that... one is not qualified for this job!"
BANG!
Yako threw a high front kick, sending Q-Taro's sword-cane flying. He then spun, and before the sword could even fall, he kicked its hilt in mid-air.
THWACK!
The sword-cane flew, its blade stabbing deep into the concrete wall.
"!"
Q-Taro was dumbfounded. He had heard rumors of the Kakerou referees' strength, but those were just... "rumors."
And Yako Hikoichi—this white-haired, gentlemanly old man—actually had the strength of a man in his prime. It was unthinkable!
As Q-Taro stared, a voice came from the doorway.
"Heh. The referee is amazing. And Kakerou's games are very interesting. This has been a good night."
"..."
Yako looked at the door and gave a slight bow to the newcomer.
Q-Taro looked. It was Akagi Shigeru. He hadn't fled downstairs. He had returned to the fifth floor.
"What are you doing here?" Q-Taro demanded.
Akagi, a cigarette in his mouth, smiled faintly. "To continue the gamble, of course."
Q-Taro's rage hadn't subsided. "Hmph! Good! You've come at the right time!"
He scrambled toward the wall, reaching for the sword-cane. Akagi doesn't have Yako's strength. I'll just kill him first!
But as his hand touched the hilt, a black shadow dashed up from behind him and stomped on the hilt.
SWOOSH!
[Aura Burst]!
Shiraki Kei's foot slammed into the hilt, driving the entire blade into the concrete, flush with the wall. Q-Taro couldn't pull it out, no matter how hard he tried.
"Hoo..."
Akagi Shigeru exhaled a cloud of white smoke, his eyes unnervingly clear, as he watched Q-Taro with anticipation.
Seeing this, Q-Taro's brow furrowed. He gave up on the sword.
"[The Man of the Divine Realm] Akagi Shigeru... just as impressive as the rumors. You even recruited a 'force' capable of matching Rodem..."
Q-Taro's face split into a smile. He suddenly proposed, "Let's team up!"
"Hm?" Akagi and Shiraki Kei both paused.
Q-Taro's voice was savage. "My Kakerou membership, my entire fortune... it's all yours! We just... team up and kill [Usogui]!"
"Once we kill [Usogui], we can use that as our starting point... and climb to the very top of Kakerou!"
"I still have connections with mercenaries overseas! I know the arms smuggling business! I'm 'useful' to you!"
"..."
Seeing them remain silent, Q-Taro pressed, "Think about it! This is the perfect chance to get rid of [Usogui]!"
"—As long... as we have this guy."
Q-Taro grew more excited, looking at Shiraki Kei.
"Honestly, I never thought... a 'human' could have strength to match Rodem!"
"Without this young man's strength, 'intellect' alone could never have out-planned Rodem, let alone killed him! Killing [Usogui] would be a piece of cake! Hehe..."
Hearing Q-Taro practically cackling, Shiraki Kei said, "Rodem was your son. You really want to team up with the guys who just killed him?"
"Son? Haha! Not at all!"
Q-Taro waved his hands. "After I mastered the human-modification tech, I needed test subjects. I raided several war-torn villages, killed the adults, and took the children."
"Of all the test subjects... 'Maruko' was the only success."
"..."
Hearing this, Shiraki Kei pressed his earpiece, responding to Kure Fusu. "Yeah. Your assessment was spot on."
"What?" Q-Taro was confused.
Shiraki Kei grabbed Q-Taro by the collar, lifting him clean off the ground. "Fusu and I agree. You're just a scumbag!"
"Hey—" Q-Taro's scalp tingled. He frantically looked to Akagi Shigeru for help.
But Akagi just kept smoking, seemingly lost in thought.
Q-Taro struggled, yelling, "Calm down! Killing me is pointless! There's no profit in it! It's meaningless!"
"Mm. That's it..."
Akagi Shigeru flicked his ash. "So-called 'gambling'... is about people dying meaningless deaths."
Q-Taro was completely baffled by Akagi's logic. "What 'meaningless deaths'..."
Hearing him, Akagi's eyes filled with disappointment. He asked Q-Taro, seriously, "So, this whole time... you weren't gambling? You were just killing for fun?"
"..."
In that instant, Q-Taro realized with a jolt: Akagi Shigeru was the true, twisted, "pure gambler."
Persuading him to team up? Impossible.
The only people who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him were those with "inhuman" strength, or those with "inhuman" intellect.
"Give it up, Q-chan. You and Akagi-san are not the same 'type'."
"—Of course, neither am I."
Madarame Baku appeared at the office door, Kaji Takaomi right behind him.
"..."
Seeing Q-Taro wasn't responding, Baku was surprised, but then he saw why.
"Ah, Kei-kun, you can put Q-chan down. He looks like he can't breathe."
Shiraki Kei finally loosened his grip.
"Koff... koff..."
Q-Taro gasped for air, his mind reeling. He looked at the two newcomers.
"[Usogui]! What are you and your lackey doing here?"
He looked confused. "You're walking right into a trap! You'll be killed by [The Man of the Divine Realm]'s team!"
"Haha! Q-chan, you're so nice!"
Madarame Baku laughed, then his tone shifted. "Did you think you could change the subject?"
Q-Taro's heart clenched. "Ngh?!"
Baku pulled out his pistol and tapped it against his own forehead. "You've killed so many people. How are you going to pay the price?"
"The winner of this gamble is whichever of our teams 'walks out' first... or if we all die. There are no other rules."
Baku raised the pistol, aiming it at Q-Taro.
"Meaning... I can kill you first, and then figure out how to escape from Kei-kun, right?"
"..."
Cold sweat beaded on Q-Taro's forehead.
Before he could speak, Shiraki Kei shoved him, sending him stumbling toward the door. Baku fired a shot at his feet.
BANG!
Q-Taro was forced to flee the office. He looked back, terrified, at the men in the room. All four of them—except Kaji Takaomi—were watching him with great interest.
"Go for it, Q-chan!"
Madarame Baku was roaring with laughter. "Now... it's your turn... to escape our building!"
"..."
Seeing Q-Taro gone, Baku finally turned his gaze and asked Shiraki Kei quietly, "By the way, Kei-kun... I left him for you, but... did you really beat Rodem head-on? Were you sure you could win?"
"Who knows?" Shiraki Kei shrugged, smiling as he muttered, "I just... really hate losing."